Many people'll give to strangers, folks they've never met,While to and for their closest, they conveniently forget.Many people will give to others on the world's other side,But when their own are in need, the same is not applied.Many will donate time, money, items, and so much moreTo those they know not or barely and will keep no score.Yet, these same when giving to their closest, keep trackAnd very often will expect their giving to be paid back.Many give to charities and churches, never truly knowingWhat their giving will be used for; where it's 'really' going.People will and do give blindly without absolute guarantee,But give nothing when the results of, they could clearly see.Whatever became of the saying, "Charity Begins At Home"?Blind giving and to strangers is the prevailing syndrome.Because those we know personally, to help, we hesitate,While with those we know not, to help, we can't wait!This syndrome affliction where giving must be distant,On both large and small scale, is pretty much consistent.Within the private sector and throughout our government,Aid is given in abundance but in distance, it is sent.Where's family helping family, neighbour helping neighbour;Communities working together with time, money, and labour?Where's 'our' government, with we, the people, by and for,With millions hungry, homeless, yet aid's sent to a foreign door?People do amazing acts of giving when outsiders are in need,While those within their circle warrant no or little heed.If we can find time and funds for those who should be secondary,We should be able to do likewise for those to us who are primary.There's no criticising of giving here; let this be understood,Because giving in itself is always a deed classified as good.However, with our priorities especially, adjustment is in order,Since Charity Begins At Home, within our circles and our border.

America is being destroyed because of greed.Dedicated to all our American Veteran Heroes who have sacrificed so much to protect and preserve our Constitutional Rights, Freedoms and Americans' safety. We Americans are indebted immeasurably to all our Veteran Heroes. We must honour them by standing together as United Americans seeing to it all that our Heroes sacrificed for, is not taken away from us by those who seek huge financial gains for themselves alone. ANYONE, including our government, our politicians, CIA, etc., who jeopardizes Americans' rights, freedoms, safety, and so forth, is an abominable disgrace for such individuals profoundly dishonour and desecrate all that our service men and women have given to, sacrificed for our country, with so many who have sacrificed the ultimate by giving up their lives. Our American Heroes did NOT make the sacrifices they did for the greedy elite, the greedy corporations, to bleed our country and Americans dry nor to make America a puppet for or a part of a one world government. Our Heroes gave their lives TO KEEP AMERICA FREE!! It is our responsibility as Americans to make damn sure, AMERICA REMAINS FREE!! We can ONLY accomplish this as a UNITED PEOPLE.United, we stand; divided, we fall;It is up to us ALL to make the call.We either honour, preserve, and saveOr forfeit and dishonour all who gave.When we work together to keep America free, We honour those who gave ALL to make us be; But against each other, using forces of hate, We forfeit freedom’s sacrifices and desecrate.~ Artsieladie/Sharon Donnelly ♥

I think the title and the poem with, covers the gist of the message here. Having rights and freedoms is a privilege we should cherish by showing respect for having them, period."Freedoms aren't free; they come at a costOf many lives sacrificed, ultimately lost."~ Artsieladie Quote ♥

We have the right to freedom of speech and expression,But we have NOT the right to use them for transgression.A right is a privilege to be respected every time we useAnd not as a platform to others, harass, insult, abuse.So many are quick to claim their right to freedom of speech,But don't give a second thought to how the right, they breach.If one exercises their rights, they have also an obligation,To use the rights responsibly, with respect and consideration.We all don't have to the same, believe, think, like, or live,But it's all of our duties to respect towards others, give.If one uses their rights to antagonise, bully, or spread hatred,They're abusing their rights and should have them confiscated.If one cannot respect their rights, use them responsibly,They don't deserve to have them, to abuse them liberally.Disrespecting our rights is dishonouring those who gave,Who sacrificed their lives, to our rights and freedoms, save.So, if you're one of those who's disrespectful, with no class,Who chooses to use your rights to bully, bash, harass,Remember who/what you desecrate is despicable, at best;A reflection of yourself; from others, likewise you request.I say this to anyone who elects to abuse a right,"Why don't YOU strap on combat boots and fight;Put YOUR life on the line, a place of living hell,And see how YOU would like then, disrespect as well."

What Ripples do you make? What Ripples do you spread?Are they Ripples borne of Love or of hate instead?The Ripples that we send, eventually convergeInto a sea, an ocean, where ultimately they merge.There is a sea of Love and there is a sea of hateAnd the Ripples that we send is which we propagate.Elements of Love are truth, honesty, kindness, and compassion;Forgiveness, understanding, with humility kept in fashion.Elements of hatred are lies, deceit, spitefulness expressed;Meanness, greed, revenge, with the ego kept caressed.The Ripples that we make; the Ripples that we sendSpeak for what we wish for to be the winning trend.When we send out Love, we make an ocean full of waves,An ocean full of Love and humanity, it saves.When we send out hate, we make an angry, frothing sea,That culminates into violence, the killings that we see.If we are to change the current violence that is trending,Then we have to change the type of Ripples we are sending.When we send out Love, hope is never lost,But when we send out hate, killing is the cost.It's the innocent who suffer when hate we release;Only Love can restore and bring about peace.When hatred keeps spreading, it makes its way behind a gunAnd when hate controls the trigger, expect killing to be done.So, why do humans choose, allow hate to interfere,When Love holds the key for peace to persevere?Humans are intelligent beings or so, it's said to be.Yet, humans kill humans, how intelligent are we?The concept is so simple, so easy to comprehend,Yet, humans can't deduce how we cause the trendThat when we promote and instigate hateWith Ripples that we send, violence we create!

A major part of life is in the zone of grey.Very little's black or white on any given day.So often we must choose, we must decide,Which of the choices is the better side.On one side there's wrong and there's also rightAnd on the other side, similar is our plight.Decisions aren't easy when both right and wrong exist,For no matter how you lean, there is a downing twist.If life were black and white, could be seen as such,Decisions would be easy. We wouldn't stress so much.But life is not as we'd like with its many shades of grey,So, our best decisions can still leave us in dismay.Since choices and decisions in life must be made,We cannot escape, good and bad must be weighed.This dilemma we all face, each and every one.Therefore, keep in mind when there are errors done.When neither side's a winner or not totally a loss,It seems we are left with only dice to toss.Oh, the shades of grey instead of black and white;Not completely sunshine and not as black as night.

Since this poem only covers the issue of being treated as an outcast, I wanted to expand further about it and similar situations and try to offer some sort of useful/helpful information or guidelines to counteract when others treat us badly. So, at the end of this post I've added some of my *additional thoughts* (which when clicked on, will expand) and probably a bit lengthy for some or perhaps many, but it's written with my sincere intention to help and/or encourage others who are being or have been treated like an outcast, like you're worthless; who are being or have been bullied, ostracised, belittled, etc. to have faith in yourselves and know the ill treatment of others can be overcome and the strength to overcome is within "you". Don't allow others the power to dictate who you are. Own the power yourself because the power over yourself is YOURS!♥

When one feels like an Outcast, one can over compensateIn ways that are extreme to try and change their fate.This can make them do things others cannot relate to,If they know not of such pain one suffers through.When one is on the outside, always looking in,Self worth and confidence, existence of is thin.This aloneness bearing compels the affected heartTo seek ways to be accepted if only just in part.Often unconventional are the ways selectedAnd so, often too are the ways by most rejected,Which then leads to a deeper desperationOf longing to belong to end the separation.Extreme behaviours can be of good or bad intention,But either way they are to seek and to draw attentionTo the fact that inside of their instigating heart,There is a place longing to belong, a very empty part.Many folks are heartless, cruel, insensitive;Shun, disown others who unlike them, live.With those who are different in various ways,Judgment's cast on through obvious displays. If one hasn't ever been on the outside looking in,They can't understand how one's feeling deep withinWho has lost their self confidence, esteem, even worth,And will even question why, the reasons for their birth.We live in a cruel world where more and more are mean,Where more and more care not, it's such a selfish scene.More find reasons to use differences to others, cast aside,Than find reasons to in harmony live peacefully and reside.Too many humans blame those who different from them liveTo excuse their bad behaviour for kindness they don't give,But this reflects on 'them' poorly; they're just too ignorant to see.Those with malice who are so callous, the Outcast, they should be.

Much of my poetry is written based on first hand experience, having to deal with people both with excellence of character and with those a bit shy of, let's say. Everything that happens to us both good and bad in life is an opportunity to learn something. Unfortunately though, it's usually the bad or unpleasant experiences that teach us the most, but we have to be willing students. As a 'work in progress', I'm a student of life; my course of study is 'progressive learning'. Hence, my goal with my poetry is to convey what I've learned and what I continue to learn from my dealings with others providing me with insight or perspicacity in the constant hope when I share my thoughts in poetic verse, others may benefit from it in some way.

I am fully aware that my poetry will and does get passed over by many and even compelling some to have negative thoughts/opinions about my poetry and I'm sure likewise when I write like I am here and now. Some don't like to read any more than a line, two, or three, while others like myself do like to read because we like to learn and we can't learn too much in life if we're unwilling to read and/or to listen. But either way, this is okay by me. I don't write to 'impose' on others. I don't write in accordance with what or how others 'think' I should write. I write and express from within, from my heart, and from my life experiences, either directly or indirectly. Those who can relate will receive. Those who can't, won't. It's this plain, this simple. I think whenever possible, we should keep things affecting our lives as simple as possible, since life has more than enough complications and usually tending to be more unpleasant than pleasant ones at that.I believe that when we share knowledge gained, we then open the door for others to benefit, if they so choose to. I wholeheartedly believe in the power of Love and Love's characteristics. I believe in seeking to gain resolutions so that problems are resolved and not left to come back and bite us in the future and likely when we least expect such to happen. Unresolved issues prey on us, distract us, stress us unnecessarily, steal our energy, etc. and we may not even be aware of this happening. When we overtime accumulate a number of unresolved issues, the greater the negative impact the unresolved issues have on our lives and even on our health.With this particular poem, I'm adding some additional thoughts since there's more I wish to say, especially to those who can relate truly to its content because of having to live being treated as an "Outcast". I KNOW what it's like to be treated like an outcast, a misfit. I KNOW how it feels to be treated like you're worthless; to be cruelly mocked and made fun of; to have your character completely assassinated. I have been called just about every demeaning and derogatory name in the book and all beginning back when I was a child and continuing on into my adult life and it did, it has adversely affected my life. But in short I have been able to rise above it, sooner or later, though it has not been easy because you do go through bouts of doubting yourself and having periods when you feel defeated and discouraged. Since I seem to be a magnet for attracting people who seem to enjoy trying to bring me down, I've experienced having to deal with more than one such person at a time and if you're dealing with other trying issues in your life simultaneously, all combined, life can become very draining to say the least.There is another lesson I've learned from this though and the lesson is, the better person you are, the more you'll experience others trying to bring you down. The beauty in this, however, is each time you succeed in rising above others' attempts to bring you down, you gain more strength, more resilience, more courage, more confidence in yourself, which in turn gives you a greater sense of self worth. Therefore, in some sort of abstract way, those who try to bring us down, inadvertently can lift us up, if we develop the right perspective. So, when we cultivate an attitude of gratitude, we benefit ourselves when we include the 'lesson deliverers' in our lives among our blessings because they challenge and test our character. We either meet the challenges, learn from them, and then rise above them or we don't.When one is treated this way, as an outcast, their self esteem, their self confidence, their sense of self worth, etc. are greatly diminished, even to the point where they'll have none. This adversely affects one's attitude, their outlook on life. If as a child one feels this way, it not only adversely affects their childhood, it will also adversely impact their adulthood as well, which they may or may not be conscientious of, with many not. It's important to remember, our positives propel us forward; our negatives hold us back. Therefore, only when we acknowledge and learn both within ourselves, will we then be afforded the ability to navigate through life in a more positive, productive way.

Since outcast folks have a very low opinion of themselves to begin with, they're unlikely to be willing to take a closer look at themselves for fear they'll have to face what they perceive about themselves "based on others' perceptions". But the best thing one can do for themselves is to LEARN themselves and HONESTLY without ego influence because when we learn ourselves, we learn both our strengths and our weaknesses, our positives and our negatives and all there is in between. When we LEARN and KNOW ourselves, no one else can determine and/or dictate "to us" who we are. We then empower ourselves and take the power regarding ourselves out of the hands of others and place it in our own, where this power rightfully belongs.When focused on learning ourselves, human nature alone will point us in the right direction first, the direction where we learn to recognise and accept our strengths, our positives, which is imperative to build our character on and around so we can establish and boost our self esteem, comprising of our self confidence and self worth. When we learn the good within us, we feel good about and we respect ourselves. When we feel good about ourselves, we like this feeling and again, human nature will push us to cultivate this good to keep this good feeling going and more inclined to reject that which is within ourselves that will make us feel poorly of and guilty about ourselves. We are then beginning to become in touch with our REAL selves.

Once we establish our self worth, we can then face objectively our drawbacks without destroying our pre-established self esteem and self respect. To truly LEARN ourselves, we must learn both the positives and the negatives about ourselves and then we must accept we have both. In this process we learn and KNOW we have value; we have worth, which instills greater confidence in ourselves and COURAGE. In order to face our weaknesses, our shortcomings, and we all have some, we NEED "courage" and a lot of courage and when we have enough courage to face our shortcomings, our demons as some like to label them, we arm ourselves with the knowledge that our courage we can then also apply to other areas/aspects of our lives.

For instance, when we're faced with doing the right thing or the wrong thing, if we can muster courage to face our demons, then we also know we're capable of having courage to do what's right AND even when we know we'll be unpopular when we do. When we can choose right over wrong with others' strong objection, we gift ourselves with invaluable self worth and earn ourselves integrity as well. When we allow ourselves to go along with the crowd, especially when we know it's wrong, we gain nothing of value. In fact we lose; we allow ourselves to be lesser people. When we allow ourselves to be lesser people, then we demean ourselves and perpetuate mediocrity in ourselves instead of excellence. Anyone can go along with the crowd. ANYONE! Going along with the crowd requires no guts, no backbone, no courage, no bravery. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. But there is a cost because a shadow is cast on one's self esteem, confidence, and worth and to counteract this, one then calls on their ego to supply them excuses to justify their lack of courage and their ego will be more than glad to fulfill their request. When we rely on our ego, we invite in all that ego perpetuates.

When we acknowledge and accept our weaknesses and shortcomings as well as our strengths and pluses, THIS makes and keeps us HUMBLE and honest with/about ourselves. When we are humble, our ego can't rule us, can't turn our self confidence into arrogance. When we are humble, we're more understanding with others; we're more empathetic than apathetic; we're more forgiving, more caring, more compassionate, and we abandon 'selfishness' for 'selflessness'. There is no better trait to cultivate than humility because humility promotes our positive and good traits, which gives our character 'integrity'. Whereas, ego condones our negative and lesser traits and provides us with excuses to justify our bad behaviours, prompted by our negative traits, therefore, compromising our character to make us less than what we could/can REALLY be. Our ego will deceive us whenever we give it power to do so.When we learn ourselves, accept we have both attributes and drawbacks, we are then in touch with all of our REAL selves, whom we have learned in the process to accept "and respect" AND we lose the need to be or project a fake, unreal version of ourselves. We only make up and project a false version of ourselves, created by our ego, when we are unable to accept our selves, when we aren't pleased or satisfied with ourselves. By allowing our ego to paint us into having a more likable, acceptable persona, though fake, instead of truly learning ourselves for REAL acceptance, we in turn will also rely on others to validate us, to measure our self worth, and ultimately determine whether or not we are acceptable, making it so, when others reject us, mistreat us, treat us like we're not good enough, etc., it will have a harmful and negative impact, unless we learn and KNOW our own REAL value/worth. I won't say, however, that others' negative, cruel, insensitive remarks and behaviour won't still have a sting because they probably will, but if you're well armored with resilience as I've previously covered, a sting is about all they'll be able to do and your developed resilience will be more than adequately equipped to ward such off. It's also a good rule of thumb to keep in mind that those who get their jollies from attacking, bullying, putting down others, etc. are more miserable with and about themselves than they are with you. People who are miserable want everyone else to wallow in misery with them. Misery loves company. Therefore, if people treat you like an outcast, you're in essence better off without them because the 'right' people will accept you and the wrong people you don't need. When you learn yourself and KNOW you have value and worth, no one can take this away from you or bring you down no matter how much they try. You may experience unpleasant pangs but they won't be able to rock or crumble the strong foundation of yourself you've built that's real and so, resilient.Personally, I strongly dislike it when I see people treat other people as outcasts. Very often I will go out of my way to try and reach out to folks who are treated this way, who aren't appreciated when I think they should be, and/or are obviously being taken advantage of. I'm almost always for the underdog. I am this way simply because I know what it feels like to be treated this way and I don't want or like to see others in this situation. I will try to find a way or ways to support them, to show them I support them, because of some desire within me to try and encourage them to see, then learn and know their own self worth, knowing through my own experience as well as through others and their same or similar experiences, this general course of action really does work. The best counter attack to have against the degrading attacks of others is to build an honest, reliable, impenetrable, resilient armor aforementioned. Sometimes I've successfully helped others and sometimes I've had my intentions backfire on me. But even when my efforts have backfired, I am still left with the knowledge knowing I tried. It's better to try and fail than it is to not have tried at all.

But it's not a 'quick fix'. There's no magical transformation overnight. A person has to want this bad enough 'for themselves' to go after and obtain this security in self through the learning to know one's REAL self and their self worth. If we have a good support system of family and friends, this helps tremendously, but even if we don't or feel we don't, it still can be done. It will be tougher to pull off and it will take longer, but if we persevere and maintain determination, we can reach that place where we know and accept our true selves completely, which includes our self worth; the place where we are completely free from the negative scrutiny of others; the place where we can and will accentuate our positive, and as a result, we radiate the same. ♥

1) What escapes from your chimneyReveals the contents of your heart,Whether borne of Love or not,Of which, your smoke will impart.If Love is present, living,Within your beating heart,Puffs of pleasant, sweet smokeFrom your chimney will depart.But... with a heart void of Love,Where darkness upon drapes,From its chimney can only beBlack smoke that escapes.A heart filled with LoveIs a heart always free.Where darkness can't prevailNor shackled, make it be.Do check your chimney oftenFor the contents of your smoke.If dark clouds you are puffing,Your heart may then be broke.A heart that bears no LoveIs a heart not working wellFor the heart is designatedAs the place for Love to dwell.

2) One's appearance may be drab,Unattractive to the sight,But if the smoke is pleasant, sweet,Then the place within's alright.Or one's appearance may have beauty;With a tune of a sweet, inviting song,But if they're puffing black smoke,Then there is something wrong.But no need to be disheartened,For hope, there always is,When Love's invited into a heart,Love brings along too, bliss.Once one's heart is exposedTo Love and all its Magic,Their former heart of darknessWill be no longer sad and tragic.As the heart fills with Love,The once Chimney Smoke of blackWill change to pleasant, sweeterPuffs, escaping from the stack.Your Chimney Smoke tells the tale,Provides the true rendition,Speaks truthfully of your characterAnd about your heart's condition.

Hatred is always seeking to take root, to get a start,To receive nourishment from and grow inside a heart.Hatred feeds on weaknesses to proportions, magnify;Spins lies into the truth and turns the truth into a lie.Hatred is provocative in ways kept secludedKeeping potential hosts unaware and from, eluded,Until their heart's infected in pursuance of their soulTo gift the devil with, Hatred's intended, main goal.When a person is infected with the vileness of hate,They may not realise they are; be receptive to, equate,Because their ego plays a role though invisible like a ghost,But with elusive power to deceive an unsuspecting host.When Hatred is at work, those infected with displayThe worst human traits showing their morals in decay.Because Hatred is deceptive, the host of, in reality is a fool,Since used against them is their ego's pride as a conning tool.Since Hatred is of the devil, it's likewise seductive;Justified with excuses to appear as though productive.But Hatred is a destroyer of Love, good, and positive,Residing in a host permitting it to grow, thrive, and live.Regardless how it's cloaked, disguised behind a name,Or used to fuel a cause, still, it is Hatred all the same.Hatred creates more Hatred, maintaining opposition,Disallows compromise for resolutions to reach fruition.Hatred incites violence, increasing its dimension;Carving deep dividing wedges to multiply dissension.Though Hatred may be subtle, its effects are profound,With tragic repercussions, it wreaks havoc all around.Hatred promotes abundantly all the ugly, human traits;Resentment, greed, envy, anger; all such, instigates.Hatred's void of Love and all the goodness Love possesses.Though Hatred tries to imitate Love, it falsely expresses.

Love is our Greatest Gift we all should celebrateEvery day in every way, allow not ourselves to hate.With those we Love, agree with, we grant Love great dimension,Yet, abandon Love completely in times when there is dissension.Love can't work its magic, if Love we don't applyAnd when we need Love most, Love, we then deny.So, how can we ever know the greatness of our Gift,If we pick and choose when to use or away from, drift?Love is never selfish, cruel, unkind, or mean.In Love's presence, hate cannot be found or seen.But when we meet with instances when we don't agree,Love we hide deep inside and choose hatred liberally.Whereas, if we would be more liberal with showing Love,The benefits we all would reap, there isn't a measure of.Why do we choose negative traits of hatred to dispense,When the positive traits of Love make the perfect sense?Every single day I witness at such an alarming rate,People wagging their tongues of bitterness and hate,While those with hearts of Love, still tender yet and caring,Are made to suffer the wrath of all the hatred sharing.Love is our Greatest Gift, we should be celebrating,But instead, humans practice more to hone skillful hating.It really is disgustingly pathetic how humans do behave,Promoting human ugliness and Love, refuse to save.As long as hatred's traits are practiced and permitted,Violence and killing then, humans will be to, committed.Peace and harmony we can't ever know or to, equate,As long as we choose hate, not Love to celebrate.Only when we humans choose Love as our course of action,Always front and center, not allowing hate's distraction,Will we obtain the peace humans long for and desire.When we Celebrate Love truly, human greatness we'll acquire.

We all have the power to, for someone else be there.We all can make a difference and show that we care.We often think this takes money and/or something big,But a tree becomes a tree from just a little twig.Perhaps, another soul is having a bad day.Perhaps, another soul is sad, lost in dismay. Perhaps, another soul has reason to be stressed,Perhaps, feeling hopeless making them depressed.The point is, we all have times when we could use some lifting,We all feel from time to time somewhat lost and drifting.But when we are given an encouraging word or two,A smile and some kindness, our spirits are made anew.Instead of thinking big, think instead of small.If we each give a little, together we'd give all,All that would be needed to make a happy placeIn each and every heart, seen on every face.Accumulated Love, accumulated kindness,Hearts would be cured and without blindness;Blindness to compassion, to caring, and to giving,All Components of Love for the joyful way of living.When we have the chance to for that someone be,We should take advantage of the opportunity,With a taste of Love, make a day a little more sweet,Give a pleasant smile to those whom we meet.When we warm another's heart, bring them a little cheer,Whether they are far away from us or if they are near,We're spreading around Love, the arch enemy of hate;God's Divine Gift, we defend, send, and propagate. To make someone's day better, a little more brightCost us nothing yet, inside of us feels good and right.When we make another feel better, we feel better, too,And if we all pass it forward, the Wonders We Can Do.